• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Garden Grazer
  • Recipes
  • Matcha
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Gluten-Free
  • Oil-Free
  • Newsletter
  • Matcha
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Gluten-Free
    • Oil-Free
    • Newsletter
    • Matcha
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Asian-Inspired

    Asian-Style Garlic Tofu

    May 6, 2014 by Kaitlin

    An Asian-Style Garlic Tofu recipe with flavorful marinade and great served with rice! Easy to prepare and filled with delicious, savory flavor. (Vegan, gluten-free option.)

    Fork piercing a piece of Asian Style Garlic Tofu from bowl with rice

    This Asian-inspired garlic tofu is so simple, yet filled with flavor.

    The tofu marinates in a sticky sweet sauce made with hoisin, garlic, and tamari.

    If you're not familiar with hoisin sauce, it is like a thick, flavorful Asian-style BBQ sauce. (Yum!)

    The first time I used it was for this Vegetable Lo Mein and knew I had to start working it into more dishes. The flavor and texture is perfect for an easy marinade like this one.

    Large bowl of Asian Garlic Tofu cubes with brown rice and green onion

    Ingredients for Asian Garlic Tofu

    For this recipe you will need:

    • Extra-firm tofu: Tofu is made from soybean curds and it's rich in protein, calcium, potassium, and iron. I try to purchase organic tofu when possible.
    • Green onion (scallion)
    • Toasted sesame oil
    • Hoisin sauce: This is a thick, richly flavorful sauce that is sweet and salty. The main ingredient is usually fermented soybean paste along with other flavors and spices. Most of the time I use "San-J" brand gluten-free hoisin sauce.
    • Tamari: Or you can substitute soy sauce, but I use tamari for gluten-free. Be sure to use low sodium if desired. Coconut aminos could also work.
    • Fresh garlic cloves: You can also include freshly grated ginger for more warmth and flavor.

    Garnish: Sprinkle sesame seeds on your bowl before serving if desired!

    Asian garlic sauce mixed together in a shallow glass pan with spoon

    Tips

    Draining the tofu: Before marinating, we'll remove excess liquid from the block of tofu. (This allows the tofu to better soak up the marinade.) To do this, either lightly press it between towels, or use a tofu press if you have one.

    Marinating: After tossing the tofu in the garlic sauce, we'll let it chill in the fridge for 30+ minutes. This gives the flavors a chance to absorb into the tofu and intensify. (No problem if you don't have time to marinate, however. The flavors won't be quite as bold, but it will still taste great.)

    Tip: Feel free to marinate the tofu longer for a few hours if you'd like!

    Tofu cubes tossed in a garlic sauce in a shallow glass pan

    Customizing

    Sauce flavors: Freshly grated ginger is also a tasty addition to the sauce! Or you can stir in rice vinegar or even pure maple syrup for a touch of added sweetness.

    Make it spicy: Sprinkle red chili pepper flakes or sriracha hot sauce to taste before serving.

    Serving

    We enjoy pairing it with brown rice and broccoli for an easy dinner.

    Tip: This tofu is also great with stir-fries, fried rice, or other Asian-inspired meals!

    Close up view of Asian-style garlic tofu cubes on brown rice

    For more inspiration, also browse all vegan tofu recipes or Asian-inspired recipes.

    Fork piercing a piece of Asian Style Garlic Tofu from bowl with rice

    Asian-Style Garlic Tofu

    Tofu marinated in a garlic sauce that's packed with savory flavor! Easy to make and perfect with a side of rice & steamed veggies.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Comment
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Marinating Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, Gluten-Free Option, Vegan
    Servings: 3 large bowls

    Ingredients

    • 14 oz. extra-firm tofu
    • 4 green onions
    • 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
    • Optional for serving: cooked brown rice, quinoa, noodles, sesame seeds for topping

    For the garlic sauce:

    • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce (see notes for gluten-free)
    • 2 Tbsp. tamari (or soy sauce)
    • 2-3 cloves garlic
    • Optional: freshly grated ginger

    Instructions

    • Remove excess moisture from the tofu by gently pressing it between towels. Then cut it into bite-sized cubes. (I cut mine about 3/4-inch.) Set aside.
    • Make the sauce: Mince garlic. Then in a shallow pan (I use an 8"x8" glass baking dish) add the three ingredients for the garlic sauce. Stir to combine.
    • Add tofu cubes to the sauce and gently toss until thoroughly coated. (*Optional: if you have time, cover and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes or a few hours.)
    • When ready, cook the tofu: In a large skillet, heat sesame oil over medium heat.
    • Once oil is hot, carefully add the marinated tofu (with any remaining sauce). Spread out the cubes in a single layer. Simmer and cook without stirring for 5-7 minutes or until lightly seared on one side. Flip, and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, slice green onions and add to the pan during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking. (Sometimes I add a little more hoisin or tamari if the pan becomes dry. The sauce should almost completely absorb into the tofu however.)
    • Great served warm over brown rice (and garnished with sesame seeds or more green onions if desired).

    Notes

    *Marinating: This is optional but recommended. If you don't have time to marinate, the flavors won't be quite as bold, but it will still taste great.
    For gluten-free: Use tamari and a gluten-free hoisin sauce. (I use the San-J brand or Wok Mei for a GF hoisin sauce.)
    Nutrition: Estimated nutritional content does not include brown rice or sesame seed garnish.

    Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

    Nutrition Facts
    Asian-Style Garlic Tofu
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    180
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    8
    g
    12
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    1
    mg
    0
    %
    Potassium
     
    309
    mg
    9
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    15
    g
    5
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    8
    g
    9
    %
    Protein
     
    12
    g
    24
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    161
    IU
    3
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    4
    mg
    5
    %
    Calcium
     
    66
    mg
    7
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you make this recipe?Leave a star rating or comment below!

    If you are enjoying this garlic tofu with Asian-style marinade and rice, also check out:

    • Easy Baked Tofu
    • Teriyaki Baked Tofu
    • Broccoli with Asian-Style Garlic Sauce
    • Hoisin Peanut Noodles

    Follow The Garden Grazer on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook for more updates and inspiration.

    More Vegan Asian-Inspired Recipes

    • Asian-Style Kale & Tofu Salad with Peanut Dressing
    • Teriyaki Mushrooms with Snow Peas
    • Shiitake Garlic Noodles
    • Spring Roll Bowl with Peanut Sauce

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating:




    1. Elaine

      July 09, 2021 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and yummy! It's a keeper.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        July 10, 2021 at 8:04 am

        Great to hear - thank you!

        Reply
    2. Amy

      July 05, 2021 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      This was great. Added red pepper flakes for some zing!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        July 05, 2021 at 12:21 pm

        Wonderful addition!

        Reply
    3. Grace McCormick

      July 22, 2017 at 1:37 am

      Do you freeze your tofu first? Or CAN you freeze and thaw it first for this recipe? I always freeze and thaw my tofu before cooking because it slightly changes the texture and doesn't fall apart as easily. Your thoughts??

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        August 18, 2017 at 8:15 pm

        Hey Grace! I've never tried freezing tofu before - but would be curious to try it out. Thanks for the tip! Hope you enjoy the recipe!

        Reply
    4. Fayth Goddard

      June 16, 2017 at 5:40 am

      Made this tonight and it was a big hit! I added broccoli and carrots which I stir fried in the sauce on the side. My meat-eating fiancée loved it too! Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        August 18, 2017 at 7:32 pm

        That sounds fantastic! Love your additions!

        Reply
    5. Rachna

      September 22, 2016 at 9:28 pm

      Hi there, I made this for lunch today and it turned out amazing! I did not expect tofu to have as much flavor as it did. I marinated it overnight and served it with a simple fried rice. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        September 27, 2016 at 4:47 pm

        That's great! Love the fried rice pairing!

        Reply
    6. Janzelle Willars

      July 07, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      Kaitlin, I'm so happy I found your site. I'm trying to change over to a plant-based diet (pretty much there), and you have some great recipes. I'm going to try this one for Asian Garlic Tofu. I don't have any hoisin sauce, but I have a jar of Lee Kum Kee Char Siu Sauce which it says in parentheses that it is Chinese barbecue sauce. Do you think that would work in place of the hoisin sauce?

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        July 10, 2016 at 3:25 pm

        Hi Janzelle! Thrilled to hear about your transition to plant-based - that's great! I've never had that particular sauce before, but it sounds like it could be similar. Would love to hear how it turns out.

        Reply
    7. Bridget

      May 10, 2016 at 11:02 pm

      Unfortunately this was just too sweet for me. This was my first time using hoisin sauce, so, perhaps, lesson learned. Actually, if you remove the hoisin sauce (and add eggs and veggies), this is pretty much my usual fried rice recipe, so I think I'll stick with that. Nevertheless, thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        May 14, 2016 at 3:27 pm

        Hi Bridget! Bummer it was too sweet for you, but thanks for your input!

        Reply
    8. Aura Lemoine

      April 24, 2016 at 12:04 am

      Amazingly delicious! This was my first time cooking with tofu, and I'm so grateful I did it with this recipe. My husband loved it... actually, my whole family loved it. I found a recipe for a homemade hoisin sauce and it was so good! This is a keeper. Thank you, Kaitlin, for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        April 24, 2016 at 7:41 pm

        That's awesome! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    9. Nona Suomy

      December 06, 2015 at 11:47 pm

      So good. I added some finely chopped jalapeños to the mixture and used 1 tbsp of tamari and 1/2 tsp of Liquid Amino Acids and oh man. Definitely making this again!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        December 07, 2015 at 6:00 pm

        That's so great! Thanks for sharing your helpful feedback!

        Reply
    10. Marijke Pieters-Kwiers

      October 25, 2015 at 7:29 pm

      I tried this recipe, but I used rice noodles instead of rice and it was AMAZING! Oh but next time I might cut the tofu a little smaller than the recipe says, 1 inch is a bit big for me, but otherwise it was so good!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        October 31, 2015 at 9:58 pm

        Great idea! Thanks for sharing your feedback!

        Reply
    11. Rebekah

      September 04, 2015 at 9:29 pm

      Do the sauce ingredients need to be heated before marinating? Your instructions say to use a shallow pan and stir, but I can't tell if that's over a burner or just to mix the ingredients together cold... Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        September 04, 2015 at 10:03 pm

        No heating necessary - I just mix it cold.

        Reply
    12. Dan Umbenhaur

      April 26, 2015 at 6:33 pm

      I just made this for lunch. I doubled the recipe and let the tofu sit in the marinade for about 2 hours. Because of this, there was no extra sauce; only my wife wanted it to be more saucy. VERY easy to make and super delicious. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        April 27, 2015 at 4:41 pm

        Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    13. SKCranePhotography

      August 26, 2014 at 11:09 pm

      This is one of my all time favorite tofu recipes!! So good!!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        August 28, 2014 at 2:38 pm

        Great to hear!

        Reply
    14. Tara

      June 22, 2014 at 6:31 pm

      Hi! Would this last in the fridge for 5 days? Thanks.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        June 22, 2014 at 7:00 pm

        Our leftovers have only lasted about 1-2 days in the fridge before getting eaten up, so anything past that I'm really not sure. It may last another couple days, but might dry out a little - in which case you could add some extra hoisin when reheating.

        Reply
    15. Shirly F

      June 15, 2014 at 12:31 am

      Easy and tasty, just made this for my family, it was a hit! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        June 15, 2014 at 3:38 pm

        Wonderful to hear you all enjoyed!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    The Garden Grazer - Kaitlin profile photo

    Hi, I'm Kaitlin!
    I share vegan recipes that are easy & healthy. (Mostly whole food plant-based, oil-free, & gluten-free.) About Me →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Info

    About
    Privacy Policy
    Contact

    Follow

    Subscribe
    Facebook
    Instagram
    Pinterest

    Recipes

    Recipe Index
    Oil Free Vegan Recipes
    Gluten Free Vegan Recipes

    Copyright © 2023 The Garden Grazer